Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 14th, 2018 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

jeremy.mackenzie, Alberta Parks

Kananaskis.

There are a couple of layers of concern in the upper snowpack. Take the time to dig down and evaluate the layers before committing to bigger terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Monday will bring a mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation.Â Temperatures will be warm with highs near 0 Â°C at ridge-top. Winds are expected to be light from the SW. Not much change for Tuesday and Wednesday except a slight chance of flurries on Wednesday.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new observed or reported today.

Snowpack Summary

Variable wind effect in the alpine, with areas of hard slab, soft slab, exposed crusts, soft snow and everything in between. In some areas the wind slabs extend slightly down into Treeline, but this condition is not widespread. The Jan 6th surface hoar seems quite spotty in distribution, and is not overly reactive to ski cutting in areas skied today. The main concern in the upper snowpack is the Dec 15th interface (surface hoar, sun crust or 10cm layer of facets) which is now buried 50 to 60cm at Treeline. Forecasters continue to watch the basal layers (November and October crusts) and just recently the Nov 26th crust became reactive in snow stability tests.

Problems

Wind Slabs

A variety of wind slab conditions are found in the Alpine. Some slabs also extend down into Treeline in wind prone areas. Human triggering is possible in steep and unsupported terrain.

Avoid freshly wind loaded features.Avoid steep lee and cross-loaded slopes

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Look for, and asses this layer as you approach treeline. Assume it is there and reactive until tests and observations rule it out.

Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.Evaluate unsupported slopes critically.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 15th, 2018 2:00PM